"Coactors Operates UK Black Cabs in Korea with Boarding for Disabled and Non-Disabled Passengers Alike"

LEVC TX5 accessible for boarding while seated in a wheelchair

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Coactus, a social mobility company known for employing hearing-impaired taxi drivers, announced on the 10th that it has introduced two electric taxis TX5 from the UK’s LEVC and started commercial operations in Seoul.

This vehicle, known as the "Black Cab," is a symbol of London and is famous as the world’s first eco-friendly mobility solution used jointly by people with and without disabilities. The battery capacity is 31 kWh, supplied by LG Energy Solution. It can run about 110 km on a single charge. Even after the battery is depleted, a 1.5L 3-cylinder gasoline generator produces driving power, enabling a maximum range of 500 km (UK, WLTP standard).

It comes equipped with a slide rail that allows boarding while seated in a wheelchair, making it accessible to both people with and without disabilities without distinction. Strollers can also be boarded with the child seated. This is why it is praised for realizing universal mobility.

Co-Actus has launched the LEVC TX5, a wheelchair-accessible dual-purpose taxi, into its first commercial operation.

The driver’s seat and passenger seats are separated by a transparent acrylic panel, and a built-in microphone allows communication with the driver. The boarding slide can be converted into a boarding step, and the foldable seats have a swivel function. Up to three guardians can sit alongside a wheelchair user, and excluding the driver, up to six general passengers can be accommodated.

The Black Cab operated by Coactus’s platform transportation service "GoyohanM" can be reserved by anyone who installs the dedicated application. While operating on a reservation basis, the company plans to increase the number of vehicles to also respond to general calls. The company is also considering a cooperation model where local governments purchase the vehicles and handle commercial operations.

Song Min-pyo, CEO of Coactus, said, "While general passengers use the Black Cab as a premium taxi, the fact that all people with disabilities or transportation-vulnerable individuals can use it without discrimination will be the first step toward resolving the basic mobility rights of all citizens."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.